Platform made of pails and brackets

ABSTRACT

The present raised platform includes at least two pails (also called “buckets” herein), a board, and two brackets for securing a bottom of the top pails to opposing ends of the board. The buckets and board are commonly found at construction sites. The brackets are particularly low-cost and easily transported such that they are basically a throwaway item that can easily be carried to job sites by a construction worker. With minimal effort and using self-tapping screws or other mechanical fasteners, the raised platform can be easily quickly constructed, used, and disposed of without consuming worker time in an inefficient manner.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to a raised platform used for such applications as professional or do-it-yourself improvement construction work on interior walls of buildings, specifically to an apparatus that allows the user to create a raised platform out of various common objects such as utility buckets and boards.

[0002] While painting, drywalling, texturing, wallpapering, and doing other such common types of construction activities, much of the work must be done at a level above the worker's reach. This creates many construction and repair activities that are attempted to be solved by elevated stilt members and/or scaffolding. However, stilt members are not always desirable, since they must be fixed to a person's feet and legs, such that the worker wearing the stilts is prevented from other desired activities until the stilts are removed. Scaffolding can be expensive and potentially heavier than desired to move. Further, scaffolding often includes multiple parts and pieces, which take time to assemble and disassemble, and further that require considerable effort to move from job site to job site.

[0003] Over the years, several ways have been devised to elevate workers to work on surfaces unreachable from the floor or the ground. A problem has been to develop equipment that allows easy horizontal and backwards movement, is height-adjustable, leaves the hands free for work, provides stability even on rough surfaces, is lightweight, and is reasonably convenient to mount and dismount and/or move. Since all of these goals cannot ideally be achieved in the same piece of equipment, trade-offs are necessary. Furthermore, each of these goals must be weighed against cost and inconvenience, since many of the potential users of such equipment are home improvement do-it-yourselfers who would not spend $100 or more for elevating stilts or scaffolding of the type commonly used by professionals.

[0004] Specifically, in regard to professional scaffolding, existing scaffolding is designed to reach heights of twelve feet and above, such that it is very cumbersome to move. Further, this type of scaffolding is time-consuming to put together and usually takes more than one person to construct. Also, such scaffolding uses heavy-duty threaded nuts and bolts that are able to withstand large shear and tension loads. Such scaffolding has avoided use of self-tapping screws that engage wood and that could potentially pull out and/or strip out.

[0005] The prior art includes a homemade scaffolding arrangement 10 (FIG. 1) where pails 11 were inverted, a long board 12 was set on the bottom 20 of the pails 11, and a short, square-cut inner board 14 was placed inside each pail 11 and clamped to the bottom 20 by bolts 15 and nuts 17. The inner board 14 did not closely match a diameter of the pail, but instead are believed to have had flat saw-cut square ends. Further, the bolts 15 each included a head 16 that potentially extended partially above the long board 12, and the nuts 17 were located inside the pail 11. This arrangement causes several concerns. If the bolt heads 16 extend even slightly above a top surface of the long board 12, they potentially present a trip hazard. Further, the pails 11 included a bottom rim 18, which defined a cavity 19 under the bottom 20 of each pail 11. If the nuts 17 are under-tightened, or if they are loose due to flexure of the bottom 20 or due to wear over time, the scaffolding 10 may not be as stable as desired. But if the nuts 17 are overtightened on the bolts 15, the board/retainer 14 can rip the bottom 20 right out of the pail 11 by forcing the bottom 20 to move into the cavity against the bottom of the board 12. Even if the bottom 20 is not ripped out of the pail 11, the bottom 20 can develop cracks and stress at edges or corners of the inner board 14, or along the joint formed by the bottom 20 and the bottom rim 18 of the pail 11. This is an undesirable condition, since not only is the board 12 poorly retained to the pail with a weak force, but also the pail 11 can become unstable as the bottom 20 becomes partially or fully broken away from the pail sidewalls and bottom rim 18. Another concern is the quality of the short board 14. Since it is scrap, it may be broken along the wood grain, weakened by a partial saw cut, or otherwise damaged. Further, since it had saw-cut ends, it had flat edges such that it would not closely match a perimeter of the pail bottom, thus reducing a strength of the homemade scaffolding.

[0006] Accordingly, an apparatus is desired solving the aforementioned problems and having the aforementioned advantages. In particular, it is desirable to provide a device including a bracket that is consistent and safe and optimally suited for an intended use in a “custom-made” scaffold.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus comprises at least two pails, a board, self-tapping fasteners, and brackets. Each bracket includes holes receiving the self-tapping screws to attach the bracket to an associated one of the pails and to the board.

[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, a bracket is adapted to retain a board to a pail. The bracket comprises a body with a planar disk shape that is sized to engage a bottom of the pail. The body has holes for receiving self-tapping screws to attach the body to the bottom of the pail and to a flat side of the board.

[0009] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of constructing a raised platform useful for painting and performing work on residential interior walls while standing on the raised platform, comprises steps of providing first and second empty pails at least three to five gallons in size, providing a board having opposing ends, providing first and second preformed brackets that closely match a diameter of the pails, and attaching each pail to one of the brackets and to one of the opposing ends to form a raised platform.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to allow a handyman, do-it-yourselfer, or professional tradesman to construct a raised platform to walk on while performing work, where the raised platform is constructed primarily from empty pails and boards at a building construction site.

[0011] These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a prior art arrangement including a long board, an inverted pail, a short board, and nuts and bolts securing the arrangement together;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a raised platform embodying the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIG. 2;

[0015]FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary view of FIG. 2;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a top fragmentary view of the bracket of FIG. 4;

[0017]FIG. 6 is top fragmentary view of a modified bracket similar to the bracket of FIG. 5;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of another raised platform including a modified bracket;

[0019]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 7;

[0020]FIG. 9 is a view of a modified bracket similar to FIG. 8; and

[0021]FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary side views of a modified arrangement similar to FIG. 7, but including spacers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The present raised platform 30 (FIG. 2) includes at least two pails 31 (e.g. empty paint buckets, caulk buckets, adhesive buckets, etc.), a board (or plank) 32, and brackets 33 for securing a bottom of each of the top pails 31 to a bottom surface of opposing ends of the board 32. The buckets 31 and board 32 are commonly found at construction sites. The brackets 33 are particularly low-cost and easily transported such that they are basically a reusable item that can easily be carried to job sites by a construction worker and/or stored with a worker's job tools. With minimal effort and using self-tapping wood screws or other mechanical fasteners, the raised platform 30 can be easily quickly constructed, used, and disassembled (or disposed) of without consuming worker time in an inefficient manner. The present arrangement using the self-tapping wood screws is surprisingly strong and robust. Further, it is noted that the use of self-tapping wood screws in scaffolding (as opposed to nuts and bolts) is somewhat contrary to conventional thinking, since scaffolding traditionally used heavier-duty nuts and bolts.

[0023] Advantageously, additional pails 31 can be nested together under the original two top pails 31 secured to the board 32, such that the platform 30 can be raised several inches above the height of a platform held up by pails 31 that are only “one high” while still maintaining a very stable and low-cost arrangement. It is contemplated that the bottommost stacked pail 31 can be a pail filled with material and having a closed lid, if desired, which adds considerable weight and stability to the present arrangement, which can be particularly useful when the raised platform is raised several inches by multiple pails 31 being stacked together.

[0024] The pail 31 is of the type commonly found at construction sites, such as empty paint cans, empty caulking and/or joint compound pails for sheet rock, adhesive filled pails, other 3-5 gallon liquid or paste containers, and the like. It is noted that a variety of these different buckets exist and the present invention is contemplated to be useful with many different types of buckets. The illustrated bucket 31 includes a bottom 35, a sidewall 36, a reinforcement ring 37 with holes 38 such as for receiving a wire handle for the paint can, and a top lip 39. The sidewall 36 commonly extends downwardly below the bottom 35 to form a rim 40 defining a cavity 41 under the bottom. Under normal use, the rim 40 provides increased stability of the pail 31 even if there are stones or pebbles under the bottom 35. Pails 31 often include a radiused corner inside the pail at a joindure of the sidewall 36 and bottom 35.

[0025] The board 32 can be any width or length. It is only necessary that a thickness of the board 32 be sufficient to support the weight of one or more skilled workers at locations between the two pails 31. A typical raised platform 30 will include a two-by-ten inch board 32 having a length of six to ten feet (more or less). However, the present invention will work with boards that are two-by-six or other sizes.

[0026] The bracket 33 (FIG. 5) is stamped or formed from sheet material, such as sheet metal, or is molded from plastic or other strong sheet material. The bracket 33 will have different thicknesses, depending on a strength and durability of the material that it is made from. The illustrated bracket 33 includes a ring-shaped body having a flat outer band 45 shaped for engaging a bottom surface of the board 32, and a dished interior band 46 shaped to fit into the cavity 41 against the bottom 35 of the pail 31. Attachment flanges 48 extend from the body to a location outside a diameter of the pail 31. Holes 49 are provided in the flanges 48 for receiving self-tapping wood screws 50 to attach the bracket 33 to the board 32, and holes 51 are provided in the dished interior band 46 for receiving self-tapping wood screws 52 to attach the bracket 33 to the pail 31. The wood screws 50 and 52 advantageously make their own holes in the pail bottom 35 and wood board 32, such that pre-drilling and/or alignment of the holes is not required. The bracket 33 optimally locates the screws 50 and 52. The wood screws 50 and 52 are chosen in length to provide secure engagement, and also to prevent over-tightening. If the screw holes strip out, the bracket 33 can be rotated or moved, and then reinstalled.

[0027] Instructions 53 are provided on the bracket 33 for assembly of the platform 30. To assemble, the bracket 33 is first screwed to a pail 31, and then the subassembly of the bracket and pail are screwed to a board 31.

[0028] The bracket 33 is adapted to work with a board or plank of any length and of different widths. The present arrangement allows the user to construct a piece of scaffolding within minutes. The present apparatus 30 allows anyone to paint, drywall, set tile, wallpaper, wash windows, and do other common types of construction activity and do any household duties that require an elevation of about 16 inches or slightly higher. It allows a person to move horizontally anywhere from two to twelve feet. It saves moving a small stepladder repeatedly and saves the time of repeatedly getting up and down the ladder to move it.

[0029] Modified forms of the bracket 33 and of the raised platform 30 are shown in FIGS. 6-11. These modified components are identified using the same numbers, but with the addition of the letters “A”, “B” “C” and “D”. This is done to reduce redundant discussion, and not for another purpose.

[0030] An alternative bracket 33A (FIG. 6) comprises a flat planar sheet having apertured bosses 55A formed on one side for each of the locations for screws 52. The apertured bosses 55A have are long enough to match a depth of the cavity 41A, such that they form effective spacers that prevent undesirable bowing and distortion of the bottom 35 as the screws 52 secure the bracket 33 to the pail 31. Also, an inner rim 56A is formed on the bracket 33A, which increases a stability of the bracket-to-pail connection.

[0031] A modified raised platform 30B (FIGS. 7-8) includes pails 31B and a board 32B, but includes a modified bracket 33B. The bracket 33B is disk-shaped and comprises a flat metal body with holes 51B located around its perimeter about an inch inboard of an edge 58B of the bracket 33B. This distance of about one inch positions the holes 51B on the bottom 35B close to the sidewall 36B where the bottom 35B is well supported by the sidewall 36B. At the same time, the one-inch distance locates the holes 51B far enough away from the sidewall 36B such that a worker is able to drive a wood screw 52B with a power tool, such as a battery-operated drill or screwdriver. The edge 58B is sized to closely match an inside of the pail bottom 35B. There is often a slight radius at the corner formed by the bottom 35B and the sidewall 36B, but the edge 58B is provided with clearance so that it is preferably slightly inboard and short of this radius, so that the bracket 33B lies flat on the bottom 35B. Four holes 51B are shown (FIG. 8), but more or less can be used, depending on such things as the thickness and stiffness of the bracket 33B, the type and strength of the pail 31 that the system is designed for, the maximum load that the raised platform 30B is expected to carry, the length of expected use, and similar design and functional requirements. Notably, the bracket 33B could also have a centered hole, if desired (see FIG. 9).

[0032] A modified bracket 33C (FIG. 9) is similar to bracket 33B (FIG. 8), but bracket 33C is made of sheet material that is somewhat thicker, stiffer, and stronger. For this reason, only a single screw hole 51C is needed.

[0033] A modified raised platform 30D (FIG. 10) uses a pail 31B and a board 32B with a modified bracket 33B, but includes a washer spacer 60D positioned in the cavity 41B at the location of the screw 52B. The washer 60D prevents the screw 52B from collapsing the bracket 31B and bottom 36B against the board 31B. The modified raised platform 30E (FIG. 11) is similar to platform 30B, but includes a hardening putty or filler spacer 60E.

[0034] It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: at least two pails; a board; self-tapping fasteners; and a bracket for each pail, the bracket including at least one hole receiving the self-tapping fasteners to attach the bracket to an associated one of the pails and to the board.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket has an edge defining a diameter about equal to but slightly less than the bottom of the pail.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one hole includes a center hole located in a center of the bracket.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, including first and second screws, and wherein the at least one hole includes first holes for receiving the first screws to attach the bracket to the board, and includes second holes for receiving the second screws to attach the bracket to the pail.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a flat panel body with a dished center.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein the body of the bracket is ring-shaped.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the body includes a large center cutout area.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the pails each have a bottom with a bottom rim forming a cavity under the bottom when the pail is set with the rim on a floor surface, and wherein the bracket is shaped to mateably engage the bottom of pail.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes bosses at the at least one hole.
 10. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket defines apertured attachment flanges that extend outwardly from a bottom of the pail.
 11. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the fasteners are wood screws.
 12. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket is made of polymeric material.
 13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the bracket is molded.
 14. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes assembly instructions for constructing the raised platform, the instructions being on a side of the bracket.
 15. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the at least two pails include first and second pails that are spaced apart, and including additional pails that are mateably engaged with the first and second pails to form two spaced-apart stacks of nested pails.
 16. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes only the following: two of the pails, a single one of the boards, two of the at least two brackets, and a sufficient number of self-tapping screws to attach the brackets to the board and to the pails.
 17. In combination, a pail having a particularly-sized bottom, and a pre-fabricated round bracket adapted to retain a board to the pail, the bracket including a body being planar and disk shaped that is sized to mateably engage the bottom of the pail; the body having holes for receiving self-tapping screws to attach the body to the bottom of the pail and to a flat side of the board.
 18. A method of constructing a raised platform useful for painting and performing work on residential interior walls while standing on the raised platform, comprising steps of: providing first and second empty pails, at least three to five gallons in size; providing a board having opposing ends; providing first and second preformed brackets; and attaching each pail to one of the brackets and to one of the opposing ends.
 19. The method defined in claim 18, including a step of increasing a height of the platform by adding additional pails stacked nestingly into the first-mentioned pails. 